The old owner of my car backed into something at one point and now the rear bumper is sagging really badly on the driver's side. You can tell that he cracked the fiberglass on the inside of the bumper and whatever panel is above it where they screw together, just in front of the right side turn signal (the painted surface of both the bumper and this other panel are perfect). I want to pull the bumper off and try to rig something together to fix the mounting point so that the bumper wont rip off more if/when I hit a large bump in the road.

How does one go about removing it? Also, do you have any ideas for a relatively easy fix?

To give you a better idea of what I mean by the 'rear bumper', see the blue thing in this picture (not my car - I dont have a digi camera)

[This message has been edited by gumert (edited 05-01-2004).]

The procedure is in either the Haynes and/or Chiltons manual.

1. Raise rear of the vehicle and support with jackstands.
2. Remove the rear wheel assemblies.
3. Remove the rear tail lamp assemblies.
4. Remove the seven lower and seven upper fascia retainers.
5. Remove the side marker lamp assemblies.
6. Remove the four side fascia retaining bolts (two each side).
7. Remove the two wheel well retaining bolts (one each side).
To install:
8. Position the fascia onto the bumper reinforcement.
9. Install the seven upper and lower retainers.
10. Install the four side fascia retaining bolts. Install the two wheel well retaining bolts.
11. Install the two marker lamp and tail lamp assemblies.
12. Install Wheel assemblies to proper torque specifications. Lower vehicle.

There's a decent picture too but my scanner isn't working right now The picture shown is also of the bumper pad rear fascia, so the aero one might be a little different?

The previous owner of my car apparently took out the fasteners that hold the bumper to the frame under the taillight housing, and now the taillight housing is caught on the bumper! So now I can't take out the left taillight, and you can't remove the rear bumper without removing the taillights!

[This message has been edited by RWDPLZ (edited 05-01-2004).]

quote Originally posted by RWDPLZ: The procedure is in either the Haynes and/or Chiltons manual. 2. Remove the rear wheel assemblies. 7. Remove the two wheel well retaining bolts (one each side). To install: now the taillight housing is caught on the bumper!

The rear wheels need not be removed to remove the rear Fasica. I think that there are 4 to 5 bolts on each side as well.

For your problem of not being able to remove your tail lamp assy., remove the screws and press down on the fascia in the area where your hung up at and push the top of the light in. The bottom should now jump out at you but the side screws may need removed before this can work. Adjust the mounting area when you have it exposed.

COOL! I'll try that when I get the car back! Right now I'm taking apart the old stereo/cassette player to see what's wrong with it, to keep busy until the car gets back.

quote Originally posted by Indiana_resto_guy: The rear wheels need not be removed to remove the rear Fasica.

Thats right. You also might find 4 pop fasteners under the bumper, use a big screwdriver to pop them out.